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YORKTOWN, N.Y. -- A recent production of "The Wizard of Oz' made sure everyone got a chance to shine.

Students at the Pines Bridge and Walden Schools performed "The Wizard of Oz" at the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES campus last week, serving as both cast and crew.

“All of the kids are involved,” said art teacher Jesse Steiner,.“They all have had a hand in putting on this play – whether they helped to paint a set or acted in the show.”

The work starts in art class, where Steiner will spread out tasks based on students’ abilities and their goals. Some students may do broad-brush strokes of the giant props while others learn brush techniques that can be used for helping paint a character’s face.

“It always goes back to the process, and how that translates to a specific goal being worked on,” Steiner said. “When they see all the props up there, I think they feel really good thinking ‘I did that,’.

The students who were in the play – whether they had speaking parts, pulled props, or played munchkins or flying monkeys – practiced during several rehearsals. To put the play together, students each had to overcome their own challenges, whether that meant learning to read lines as clearly as possible, being patient with others during practice or controlling their emotions on stage.

Jay Tapia said he really liked playing the Cowardly Lion, particularly the part when he tried to frighten Dorothy and Toto. He said the best part was the reaction from his dad.